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FRANK DAWSON BLILEY

April 29, 1906--May 17, 1955
Born: Erie, Pennsylvania
Buried: Erie, Pennsylvania
Spouse: Isabelle Marie Rosenberg Bliley

CONTENTS:

1954 Portrait for 25th Anniversary Promotions Plant Security Badge from World War II Two Roads Named to Honor Dad Keeping in Touch with Home on the Road

1954 Portrait for 25th Anniversary Promotions This photo was taken in 1954 for promotional materials being developed for the 25th anniversary of the Bliley Electric Company. He died at the age of 49 before the anniversary year was completed. He was a life-long radio amateur operator whose last call sign was W3GV. That call sign is now held by the amateur radio club he helped create: Radio Association of Erie (RAE). He was known to his friends as "Dawson". His parents called him by his middle name to distinguish him from his father was also a Frank. This photo still hangs in the main hallway of the Bliley Electric Company which he founded in 1930. More information on my his life's work can be found on the Bliley Electric History Site.

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Plant Security Badge During WWII To the right is a photo of the security badge worn by my father during World War II. The photo was probably taken in 1940 at the age of 34. Like most factories of the period, Bliley Electric employed armed guards at all entrances 24 hours a day. This badge is pretty basic by current standards.  Enlarged View (133k)

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Two Roads Named to Honor Dad My father was honored more than 30 years after his death by the renaming of two residential streets in Southwestern Millcreek Township South of Erie. The family home at 965 Arlington Road, was built in Millcreek Township in 1939 and lived in by my mother and stepfather until 1996. The photo at the right was taken in March 1999. No one in the family was consulted about the naming and no one knows who to credit for the initiative. The results are certainly appreciated.

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Keeping in Touch with Home from the Road My father traveled around the country, visiting dealers and trade shows to promote the latest products of the Bliley Electric Company. He often visited the real customers at amateur radio conventions and give away a few crystal units as door prizes. His time on the road meant long periods of time away from my mother. I found the rubber stamp seen on the right in an old desk drawer after Dad's death. I asked Mom what was this strange stamp for? She said that she often complained to my Dad that the least he could do to reassure her of his well-being, was to send her a post card from each city he visited. He reluctantly agreed to this, but surprised her when a stream of cards came in carrying the mark of a rubber stamp with the familiar, "Having a fine time, wish you were here." Of course, he signed each card "Love, Dawson"; so he could not be accused of being impersonal.

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